Lake Tahoe Is The Clearest Blue That It's Been In Decades, But It's Only Temporary
By Natasha Kayes|Published May 01, 2023
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Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
Stretching along the California-Nevada border, Lake Tahoe has long been a treasured tourist destination, regardless of the season. However, right now is the time to visit and take advantage of Lake Tahoe’s clear blue water. It is the clearest it has been in decades, but it will not last forever.
This massive lake is something of a natural wonder, famous for the stunning sapphire color of its water. But in recent years, the water - while still very blue - has not been as crystal clear as it once was.
The intense blue color of the water has been largely attributed to the area’s clean air and water. Like all water, part of the color is a reflection of the sky, but there is much more to it.
The water is so clear that it apparently absorbs red light, making the blue light that it reflects even more rich and vibrant.
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What is truly interesting is that the lake’s color and clarity do not necessarily go hand in hand. Scientists have found that while the clearness has to do with the water itself being clean of fine particulates, the color itself is intensified by a lack of algae.
That all makes the current phenomenon even more interesting. Suddenly, the clarity of Lake Tahoe’s gorgeous blue water is being restored and the reason for it is related to tiny little creatures beneath the surface.
The water has not looked as clear as it does now since the 1980s, so a study is being conducted by experts at UC Davis to learn more about the tiny lake inhabitants responsible for the change.
During the mid-1960s, a specific type of shrimp was introduced to the lake in an effort to increase the population of lake trout by providing a plentiful food source for them. The mission was not entirely successful. The shrimp, rather than being eaten, consumed nearly all of the zooplankton that kept the water clear.
Recently, experts found that these little shrimp were gone. The result? The zooplankton that the shrimp had fed on reappeared.
The change in the balance of life in this underwater world is what has caused the sudden clarity of the water. These now-flourishing microscopic creatures, known as Daphnia, do much to eliminate the fine particles that cloud the water.
Clarity is a good way to gauge water quality, and of course, the prettier the water, the more tourists are drawn to visit, which benefits the economy of the area. But unfortunately, the situation is temporary.
According to experts, the shrimp will be back. They estimate the return of the shrimp to occur in about two or three years, and the little particle-clearing plankton will again disappear.
If you want to see Lake Tahoe at its most beautiful, it’s time to start planning your visit. Have you spent time at Lake Tahoe? Did you know about this phenomenon related to Lake Tahoe’s clear blue water? If you are thinking about a Lake Tahoe getaway, be sure to check out Incline Village on the lake’s north shore.
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